OBJECTIVETo study the influence of nasolabial angle alteration on facial profile attractiveness and investigate the perception differences in profile attractiveness among laypeople.

METHODSA young Chinese female with normal hard and soft tissue cephalometric values was chosen as a research object. Profile photograph was taken in a natural head position. Photoshop software was chosen to rotate the nose tip and upper lip, thus changing the degree and direction of nasolabial angle. A total of 33 different profile pictures were achieved. Thirty-three professional orthodontists and 64 non-professionals were chosen to score these 33 pictures.

RESULTSWhen the upper lip position was fixed, the profile was considerably attractive because the angle of nasal tip was not changed or altered. When the nasal tip rotation angle was fixed, profiles with a retroclined upper lip were considered significantly attractive by the layperson and professional groups. Regardless of the direction of the nasal tip rotation, the respondents considered the profile with a retroclined upper lip highly attractive.

CONCLUSIONThe soft tissue profile with a retroclined upper lip looks considerably attractive in Chinese female populations. Therefore, during an orthodontic treatment, appropriate retraction of the incisor is recommended to improve soft tissue profile attractiveness.

Cephalometry ; Esthetics ; Face ; anatomy & histology ; Female ; Humans ; Incisor ; Lip ; Nose

Objective To investigate the occurrence law of autophagy in trophoblast cells from preeclampsia and its underlying mechanisms.Methods Twenty cases of placenta tissues were collected from women suffered from preeclampsia and normal pregnant women respectively.Autophagosome of trophoblast cells were observed by transmission electron microscope.The expressions of LC3-Ⅱ/Ⅰ and Atg4B in placenta tissues were detected by western blot and real-time PCR.Results Compared with the control group,typical autophagosomes of trophoblast cells were observed by transmission electron microscope.The ratio of LC3-Ⅱ / Ⅰ in placenta of PE patients was increased (1.43 ± 0.23) compared with control group (0.59 ±0.12),and the expression of Atg4B was up-regulated in both mRNA [(1.73 ±0.16) folds] and protein levels (0.71 ± 0.13) compared with control group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Autophagy was significantly up-regulated in trophoblast cells from patients suffered from preeclampsia.Thus,all the data suggest that autophagy might be involved in the generation of preeclampsia.

Objective To explore a method for establishing the hamster model of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD)and the indicators for its evaluation.Methods Clindamycin was administered to hamsters subcutaneously (day 1),and 24 h later infected with C.difficile clinical isolates KH1 (ribotype 027,106-108 CFU/mL)or SH9 (ribotype 001 ,108-1010 CFU/mL)by gavage.Animals were observed for CDAD symptoms such as diarrhea,weight loss and death.At the end of ob-servation period (day 7 or death),the cecum was collected from each animal for histological evaluation of inflammation.Results Following a single dose of 100 mg/kg clindamycin subcutaneously,all the animals challenged with KH1 (108 CFU/mL)devel-oped diarrhea and then died within 5 days.All the hamsters challenged with SH9 (1010 CFU/mL)developed diarrhea as well but only 66.7% died at the end of observation period.Among other groups,only one or none developed diarrhea and then died. The symptoms of hamsters with diarrhea included loose stool,wet tail and weight loss.On histological examination,conges-tion,hemorrhage and neutrophil infiltration of the mucosa were observed in the hamsters died of CDAD.Conclusions We have successfully established a hamster CDAD model that allows for future investigations.

Objective To analysis the clinical high risk factors for fetal chromosomal abnormalities.Methods Amniocentesis,chromosomal karyotype analysis and other related methods were performed on 4829 pregnant women,who presented sole indication of prenatal diagnosis such as advanced age,high risk factors and fetal ultrasound abnormalities,for analyzing the correlations of those women to the incidence of fetal chromosomal abnormalities.Results The detection rates of abnormal karyotype were 5.0％ (57/1143),1.7％ (40/2367) and 4.3％ (57/1319) in the older women group (age＞35),abnormal maternal serological screening group and abnormal fetal ultrasound finding group,respectively.The detection rats of karyotype abnormality were 6.9％ (23/333) in women with fetal congenital heart diseases,8.5％ (20/234) in those with abnormal amniotic fluid,1.1％ (1/89) in those with fetal ventriculomegaly,1.1％ (10/898) in those with fetal intracardiac hyperechogenicity,5.9％ (2/34) in those with fetal choroid cyst and 5.6％ (1/18) in those with fetal renal pelvis broadening.Conclusion The pregnant women with age＞35,fetal sonographic structural anomalies or two or more soft marker abnormalities should be prenatally diagnosed and doing the genetic counseling combined with the family history.

Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of P28 and P43 in papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC)and its relationship with clinicopathological features after TRa1 gene transcription.Methods Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR(RT-PCR)and gel electrophoresis were used to determine the target fragments and to isolate the bands of different fragments.The optical density of each band was scanned by UV transmittance analyzer to detect 31 cases of PTC tissue and expression levels of P28 and P43 in para-cancerous tissues.Results The average gray value of P28 in thyroid carcinoma group was 0.77±0.34,which was significantly higher than that in para-cancer group(0.31±0.18).The average gray value of P43(0.85+0.21)in thyroid carcinoma group was significantly higher than that in para-cancer group(0.34±0.15)(P<0.05).The expression levels of P28 were not correlated with gender,age,tumor size,lymph node metastasis and clinical pathologic stage(P>0.05),The expression levels of P43 were not correlated with gender,age,tumor size and lymph node metastasis.(P>0.05)but they were related to clinical pathologic stage(P<0.05).There was no correlation between expression levels of P28 and P43(r=0.266,P=0.071).Conclusion The increased expression of P28 and P43 may have a high degree of malignancy and a certain clinical value in predicting the adverse prognosis of PTC.Both factors are helpful for the prevention and treatment of PTC.

Objective To prepare a peptide monoclonal antibody (McAb)against human papillomavirus 18E6 separately,and identify its specificity and pathogenicity.Metheds The advantage epitope peptide was designed and synthesized by ABCpred and Bcepred,and then used to immunize BALB/c mice after coupling with bovine serum albumin (BSA).And the McAb was prepared by hybridoma technique.HPV18E6 gene was amplified from cervical swab specimen containing HPV18 and insert-ed into expression vector pET-28a.The constructed recombinant plasmid was transformed to E.coli BL21(DE3)for expres-sion under induction of isopropyl thio-β-D-galactoside.The expressed protein was used to identified the McAb had been pre-pared.Results The hybridoma cell lines could constantly produce MAbs against HPV18E6 peptides.Sequencing proved that recombinant plasmid pET-28a-HPV18E6 was constructed correctly.Western blotting showed that the anti-HPV18E6 pep-tides antibody could specifically recognize HPV18E6.Conclusion A monoclonal antibody against the advantage epitope pep-tide of human papillomavirus 18E6 prepared could specifically recognize HPV18E6 specifically.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the curative effect and mechanism of allo-bone marrow mes-enchymal stem cell(BM-MSC)infusion in the experimental autoimmune thyroiditis(EAT)mouse model. METHODS An EAT mouse model was established in C57BL/ 6 mice using porcine thyroglobulin(PTg) and Freund adjuvant,while BM-MSCs were injected into the EAT mice of BM-MSC treated group,3×105 per mouse on the 0,7th,14th and 21st day. On the 28th day,all the mice were sacrificed,and thyroid tissue was isolated,embedded in paraffin and stained with HE staining for histological examination. Serum was collected to assess the level of thyroglobulin antibodies( TgAb ) ,thyroid microsomal autoantibodies( TmAb),antithyroid peroxidase antibodies( TPOAb),3,5,3 ',5 '-tetraiodothyronine (TT4),3,5,3 '-triiodothyronine( TT3),interleukin-10( lL-10) and interferon-γ( lFN-γ ). RESULTS① Thyroid tissue in model group showed inflammatory response and infiltration. The level of TmAb, TgAb and TPOAb was significantly increased compared with normal control group,but the level of TT4 was decreased while there was no change in the level of TT3,suggesting that an EAT mouse model was established. ② The thyroid in model group and BM-MSC treated group showed inflammatory response and inflammatory cell infiltration,but the response in BM-MSC treated group was weaker than in model group. ③ Compared with model group,the level of TgAb,TmAb,TPOAb and lFN-γ was decreased obvi-ously(P﹤0.05),the level of TT4 and lL-10 was increased significantly(P﹤0.05),but the level of TT3 changed little in BM-MSC treated group. CONCLUSION BM-MSCs may partly restore the immunologi-cal homeostasis state. The mechanism may be related to its modulation of immune balance of Th1/ Th2.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the inner ear structure with volume rendering (VR) reconstruction and to evaluate the role of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) in congenital inner ear malformations. METHOD: HRCT scanning was performed in 10 patients (20 ears) without ear disease (control group) and 7 patients (11 ears) with inner ear malformations (IEM group) and the original data was processed with VR reconstruction. The inner ear osseous labyrinth structure in the images generated by these techniques was observed respectively in the normal ears and malformation ears. RESULT: The inner ear osseous labyrinth structure and the relationship was displayed clearly in VR imaging in the control group,meanwhile, characters and degree of malformed structure were also displayed clearly in the IEA group. Of seven patients (11 ears) with congenital inner ear malformations, the axial, MPR and VR images can display the site and degree in 9 ears. VR images were superior to the axial images in displaying the malformations in 2 ears with the small lateral semicircular canal malformations. The malformations included Mondini deformity (7 ears), vestibular and semicircular canal malformations (3 ears), vestibular aqueduct dilate (7 ears, of which 6 ears accompanied by other malformations) , the internal auditory canal malformation (2 ears, all accompanied by other malformations). CONCLUSION HRCT can display the normal structure of bone inner ear through high quality VR reconstructions. VR images can also display the site and degree of the malformations three-dimensionally and intuitively. HRCT is valuable in diagnosing the inner ear malformation.
Child ; Child, Preschool ; Ear, Inner ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Male ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To study the diagnostic value of high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) in assessment of semicircular canals disease. METHOD: Eighty-three patients were scanned with HRCT and the original data were processed with MPR. The semicircular canals full length was respectively observed in one image of MPR in the normal ears. The abnormal location of the canal were observed. RESULT: In one image the full length of the horizontal, superior and posterior semicircular canal can be respectively displayed in one image of MPR in normal ears. By this way ,1 superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD)was found in precaution group, 1 superior and 2 horizontal semicircular canal blocked, 1 vestibular aqueduct (VA) joined into superior semicircular canal and 2 VAs joined into posterior semicircular canal and abnormity of the three semicircular canals were found in SNHL. CONCLUSION MPR canould display the three canals full length in one picture and have a high specificity in the diagnosis of the semicircular canal abnormity.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Conductive ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Semicircular Canals ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo optimize the methods for genetic detection and prenatal diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).

METHODSDenaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC), multiplex PCR (mPCR), sequencing and other molecular techniques were used in combination for molecular diagnosis of 8 cases diagnosed as DMD.

RESULTSAmong the 8 cases, 4 have carried large deletions, 3 have point mutations, among which 6 were of de novo type. Prenatal diagnosis were offered for 5 families, the results showed that none of the fetuses had carried large deletions or point mutations. The pregnancies had continued and healthy babies were born.

CONCLUSIONCombined use of short tandem repeat, DHPLC, mPCR and sequencing can improve the detection of DMD gene mutations. By establishing and optimizing genetic and prenatal diagnostic methods, accurate genetic counseling can be provided for families affected with DMD.

Adult ; Base Sequence ; Female ; Fetal Diseases ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne ; diagnosis ; embryology ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Point Mutation ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Sequence Deletion ; Young Adult